Three secondary schools to benefit from £9.8 million investment in building improvements

Hampshire County Council has earmarked £9.8 million for major building improvement projects at three Hampshire secondary schools:

- Court Moor School, Fleet – £3.8 million
- Cove School, Farnborough – £3 million
- Crookhorn College, Waterlooville – £3 million

The improvements agreed last week will deliver refurbishment works at the three schools to modernise buildings, improve thermal performance and create better learning environments while reducing maintenance and running costs.

The work will include replacing windows, doors, cladding and roofs with modern, high-performance alternatives, alongside improved insulation and, where needed, energy-efficient LED lighting. 

County Council Leader, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said: "These improvements are designed to provide modern, comfortable and energy-efficient learning environments for pupils and staff, while reducing running costs and ensuring school buildings remain fit for purpose for years to come.

"Investing in our school estate is an important part of our commitment to supporting education across Hampshire. By improving insulation and replacing ageing building components, we can help schools reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions, as well as minimise future maintenance requirements. Following this summer's red heat alert, it is more important than ever that our school buildings are resilient to the impacts of a changing climate, helping to keep classrooms comfortable and safe during periods of extreme weather.  We're continuing our long-term programme of modernising school buildings, making them more resilient to changing weather conditions and better equipped to support teaching and learning."

The improved insulation and roofing systems will help reduce the amount of heating needed at the schools.  All three schemes include Natural Ventilation Heat Recovery systems that provide benefits summer and winter.  In winter they can reduce heating demand through heat recovery and in the summer they purge unwanted heat, particularly overnight so that classrooms remain more comfortable during occupied hours. 

The project at Cove School will include the refurbishment of the toilets within the building, upgrades to the fire precautions and replacement of the heating system with a heat pump. At Court Moor School, the works will include the refurbishment of the food technology rooms and upgrade of the fire precautions including provision of a new staircase. The works at Crookhorn School will include the refurbishment of a Science room and toilets.

Works are planned to begin in Spring 2027 and will be carefully programmed in consultation with each school to minimise disruption and to make the best use of school holiday periods.

Funding for the projects is allocated from the Department for Education's School Condition Allocation, a grant that supports the maintenance and improvement of school buildings.